17 replies to this topic

[Rubenvis24]

The title pretty much explains it all. I have a small colony of L. Niger and I currently am feeding them fruitflies I catch in the house. However to keep chasing them and trying to catch them with my hands is sometimes not that easy.

[Zeiss]

If you want to use wild-caught insects, always freeze them over night to kill anything that might be inside them.  I wouldn't suggest using "fried" bugs though, not as nutritious for the ants.  

 

Edit:  That last sentence was horribly written.  What I meant to specify was using fruit flies killed by the zapper probably isn't the best idea, as they will basically explode and lose a lot of their body substance.  In my opinion, it'd be a waste to zap them than catching live and freezing.  

Edited by Zeiss, August 26 2017 - 2:51 PM.

[gcsnelling]

There is absolutely no reason not to use them.

[Zeiss]

There is absolutely no reason not to use them.

Yeah, but these are fruit flies we are talking about; they probably explode and lose a lot of mass on them.  For bigger insects, I'd say go for it.  

[AntsMaryland]

I agree with Zeiss. Fruit flies are so tiny all it would be is a little spec. Just catch and freeze them.

[Cindy]

Yes they will just be slightly crispy

[Shaye]

If you want to use wild-caught insects, always freeze them over night to kill anything that might be inside them.  I wouldn't suggest using "fried" bugs though, not as nutritious for the ants.  
 
Edit:  That last sentence was horribly written.  What I meant to specify was using fruit flies killed by the zapper probably isn't the best idea, as they will basically explode and lose a lot of their body substance.  In my opinion, it'd be a waste to zap them than catching live and freezing.

What do you mean explode?.. I've killed numerous small insect with electric fly swatters, and it only shocks them from my experience.. I've never had any insect, no matter how small, explode from such an insignificant amount of electricity that is transferred in the short amount of time before they fall to the floor. The only thing I have ever experienced that might not make them a good choice for a colony's diet would be when they literally burn.

Edited by Shaye, August 26 2017 - 6:36 PM.

[Zeiss]

 

If you want to use wild-caught insects, always freeze them over night to kill anything that might be inside them.  I wouldn't suggest using "fried" bugs though, not as nutritious for the ants.  
 
Edit:  That last sentence was horribly written.  What I meant to specify was using fruit flies killed by the zapper probably isn't the best idea, as they will basically explode and lose a lot of their body substance.  In my opinion, it'd be a waste to zap them than catching live and freezing.

What do you mean explode?.. I've killed numerous small insect with electric fly swatters, and it only shocks them from my experience.. I've never had any insect, no matter how small, explode from such an insignificant amount of electricity that is transferred in the short amount of time before they fall to the floor. The only thing I have ever experienced that might not make them a good choice for a colony's diet would be when they literally burn.

 

When insects are hit by the electricity, the noises heard are popping from the current running through the insect and singeing it.  In that process, there are little bursts of escaping gases that happen on/inside the target.  With a fruit fly, given how tiny those flies are, they are more likely to burst than an insect larger than it.  

 

I also doubt you would have noticed little insects, such as fruit flies, being damaged from electric fly swatters in such a manner as your goal was to get rid of them quickly, and not look at each one that is killed.  It also depends on the voltage of the swatter; as low voltage won't cause as much damage as the higher ones on the market.  

[Bryce]

Wild caught is all I use.

[drtrmiller]

Zeiss, your argument is that electrocuted insects should not be fed to ants, because some of the insect may remain on the electric wires, and/or the insect may be cooked by the high voltage. This is an irrelevant conclusion, because while it is possible insects may lose some mass or undergo chemical changes similar or identical to cooking, neither affects whether the resulting food may be safely consumed by ants, which is the implied concern posed by the questioner.

Edited by drtrmiller, August 26 2017 - 11:56 PM.

[Zeiss]

Zeiss, your argument is that electrocuted insects should not be fed to ants, because some of the insect may remain on the electric wires, and/or the insect may be comes by the high voltage. This is an irrelevant conclusion, because while it is possible insects may lose some mass or undergo chemical changes similar if not identical to cooking, neither affects whether the resulting food is harmful, which is the implied concern posed by the questioner.

My argument is not generalizing insects, I am specifying fruit flies, as Rubenvis24 had asked about fruit flies.  I also never said anything about the food being harmful and he just asked if he could; I was informing him that it would probably be a waste of his time, as they are electrocuted fruit flies, and it would lead to a fruitless fruit fly endeavor.  

[drtrmiller]

Zeiss, I never said you said that it would be harmful.  I said that you said that the practice should not be done because you said parts of the insects would be wasted.  That is what you said, but not what you said I said you said.  Read!

Edited by drtrmiller, August 26 2017 - 9:05 PM.

[Klassien]

"Shrewd Simon Short sewed shoes. Seventeen summers, speeding storms, spreading sunshine successively, saw Simon’s small, shabby shop, still standing staunch, saw Simon’s selfsame squeaking sign still swinging silently specifying: Simon Short, Smithfield’s sole surviving shoemaker. Shoes sewed soled super finely."

 

I think if you get the chance, use something (like a mesh screen to catch them) and freeze them.

[Shaye]

When insects are hit by the electricity, the noises heard are popping from the current running through the insect and singeing it.  In that process, there are little bursts of escaping gases that happen on/inside the target.  With a fruit fly, given how tiny those flies are, they are more likely to burst than an insect larger than it.  
 
I also doubt you would have noticed little insects, such as fruit flies, being damaged from electric fly swatters in such a manner as your goal was to get rid of them quickly, and not look at each one that is killed.  It also depends on the voltage of the swatter; as low voltage won't cause as much damage as the higher ones on the market.

I pay plenty attention to all insects (no matter the size) that I have electrocuted.. I've electrocuted fruit flies hanging around a little trashcan used for food/fruit scraps and fed them to differing species with complete reception.. It offers some good, even though they are not very large to begin with. Truthfully, I can't say that I have ever observed an electrocuted fruit fly to the point of looking for ruptures since I never immediately saw anything out of the ordinary.. I'll look for that in the future though.

[Serafine]

How are you even hitting fruit flies with an electic fly sweater anyway? These things are usually made to hit much larger flies, fruit flies will likely just pass between the gaps and not get hit at all.

Edited by Serafine, August 27 2017 - 1:28 AM.

[Serafine]

The more interesting question btw is does the electricity fry and mites and harmful parasites?

Edited by Serafine, August 27 2017 - 6:31 AM.

[lucas3431]

Do they like BBQ sauce with it? 

 

I use a fly battery swatter, the voltage only stuns the larger insects such as Blue Bottles while smaller ones do tend to smoke a little. I have found by removing the batteries is more effective because the power of swinging the swatter kills all the annoying bugs easily. Clean kill, pop into freezer then feed.

[Shaye]

How are you even hitting fruit flies with an electic fly sweater anyway? These things are usually made to hit much larger flies, fruit flies will likely just pass between the gaps and not get hit at all.

It's definitely not without patience and repetition.. If I go slowly, they don't panic.

The more interesting question btw is does the electricity fry and mites and harmful parasites?

That would be extremely convenient.

Edited by Shaye, August 27 2017 - 9:39 AM.